Nebulising a rabbit with pseudmonas using gentimicin

Question
My rabbit, Cinnamon, 5 yr old lop with molar malocclusions,  has
pseudomonas in her nasal cavity.  She was diagnosed several months ago and
her condition is well managed with oral Baytril and, until the past few days,
gentimicin drops into her nostrils.  I had tried using the gentimicin as eye
drops (which is what the brand we have actually is) in order to get the drug
more deeply into her nasal cavity, but her eyes became very sore so I went
back to dripping into her nostrils twice a day.

This all works well and keeps on top of the infection, but doesn't get rid of it,
which I know we are never likely to do.  I do need to prevent it spreading into
her lungs or brain though, and want better control over it.

So I've bought a nebuliser and have begun to use that to give her the
gentimicin.  I use 5ml water and 1 drop gentimicin, twice per day.  (I had
previously been using a drop in each nostril twice per day but that won't have
been going so deep.)

Of course she hates it, as the gentimicin must have a very strong smell, and I
suppose taste.  I'd noticed when I gave it as drops that she was off food for
about 10 minutes after application - even her favourite treats, dried
cranberries.

I'm also nebulising once per day with Colloidal Silver.  She doesn't seem at all
upset by this, so, as the process is identical, the thing that upsets her has to
be the smell of the gentimicin.

I can't see any advantage in mixing the Colloidal Silver with one of the
gentimicin doses as she simply enjoys the cuddle when I do the CS alone, but
wonder is there anything I can do to reduce her distress (and wriggling!) when
I dose with gentimicin?  Is there anything I could safely mix in that may mask
the smell but not interfere with the action?  Would it be sensible to follow by
nebulising with plain water, or would that undo the good done by nebulising
with plain gentimicin by washing it away?

Thanks in advance for any advice

Ros

Answer
Dear Ros,

I would suggest you talk to your vet about switching her to amikacin instead of gentocin for the nebulizer.  I'm not aware that either one has a very strong smell.  But if you're using the otic drops for gentocin, that has acetic acid (vinegar) that will make her experience very unpleasant.

Instead, we use injectible amikacin, and everyone seems to tolerate it quite well.  Adding Mucomyst (acetylcysteine) will also help loosen the mucus so she can either snork it out more easily, or swallow it.  And, for some reason, bunnies seem to really like the smell of Mucomyst, and relax right into it.

Just some thoughts and suggestions.  Hope they help!

Dana